Chastened after their capituatlion at St. George’s Park, the tourists have ventured to Cape Town for the series-deciding third and final Test, beginning on Tuesday.

Though not yet confirmed, it’s understood Marnus Labuschagne is increasingly likely to hold his spot.

Nic Maddinson will almost certainly be dropped for the returning Cameron Green, while Josh Inglis and Cooper Connolly will both come under consideration, leaving Beau Webster similarly vulnerable.

Nathan Lyon, omitted for the second Test, is also in the mix to return depending on how the Newlands pitch presents.

In making 121 in the second innings at Gqeberha, Head became just the second Australian for the series to reach 50, with Matt Renshaw having done so across both digs of the first Test.

It continued a recent trend of Australia being overly reliant on one batter, with Green having done the heavy lifting during the split Top End series with Bangladesh.

Head conceded the Aussies needed more players to stand up with the bat at a time.

“I think we’ve spoken as a group going into the series that we’ve sort of had one individual each time, and they’ve always been different individuals, and we sort of haven’t been able to get that collective batting day that we would desire as a team,” Head said.

“Something that the team’s been really good at over a long period of time is be able to build big partnerships, substantial partnerships to win games of cricket. We just haven’t been able to find that in the last couple of months. It’s very hard to put a finger on why, we’re playing some exceptional attacks in some trying conditions, but yeah, it’s no lack of trying.”

Yet rather than throw the baby out with the bathwater, Head insisted that the team was capable, pointing to its No. 1 spot on the ICC Test rankings as proof that though massively disappointing at St. George’s Park, Australia remained a more than competent side.

“I think it’s pretty clear what we got wrong. We had a pretty s**thouse day (on day four). As simple as that. I don’t think if we don’t get bowled out for 99, more than likely the Test goes to a draw,” vice-captain Head said.

“It’s pretty obvious what we did poorly. So I think there’s disappointment in the room. We’ll talk about it over the next few days. We have a couple of training sessions. Guys will be switched on. Guys will be ready to go again, and we push on.”

As inevitably happens when Australia loses, especially when the defeat is heavy, the scrutiny is fierce. But Head was resolute in speaking about a team that has not lost a bilateral Test series since 2023.

“We’ve got a strong Australian cricket team. We haven’t played very well, and people doubt that over this week. They doubt that it’s a strong cricket team. It’s a strong cricket team. It has been over a period of time. We’ve had a s*** week. That’s OK.”

No player is more squarely under the public microscope than Labuschagne, who hasn’t played a Test ton in more than three years and perhaps more pertinently has made six scores between 30 and 49 in nine Test innings this year. Australian captain Pat Cummins hinted that Labuschagne was likely to hold his spot for one final chance ahead of the home Test summer, and Head said he could relate to having a run of unconverted starts.

“I’ve been there before. It’s a tough place to be when you think you’re batting well. I’ve probably been there more than anyone. 30s and 40s, and feel like you’re close, and then it’s not quite there. And timing’s always tough as well,” Head said.

“There’s obviously pressure on. That’s pretty obvious to see, and obvious in the way (Labuschagne reacted when he) obviously got away with and lbw (in the second innings).

“He knows it was a big moment. He’s disappointed, but again, you revert back to the process. Nothing’s ever guaranteed in the game, and I can’t speak on what happens in the future.

“Test cricket is bloody hard, but we’re in a performance-based game, so look, everyone feels the pressure. I felt the pressure over the last couple of weeks. I’ve been desperate for runs, so everyone feels that no matter what position, Steve Smith’s got 11,000 Test runs. I reckon he’s felt pressure at some stage. Everyone wants to score. Everyone wants to be consistent.”

Smith is yet to reach 30 across four innings this series, and was laboured by neck spasms in the second Test. The former captain has descended on Cape Town for his first Test appearance at Newlands since the infamous sandpaper scandal, but despite the heightened attention and likely rehashing of that episode, Head backed Smith to thrive.

“He’ll be fine,” Head said.

“I think he showed that in (20) 19 in England. It’d be nice to have a crowd. I’m hearing good things about Cape Town, so a good atmosphere is always good. We support him. I think he’s been through a lot in that space. I think he handles it well. Sometimes it brings the best out of him, as we’ve seen in the past. So I know he’s been in the wars. He’ll rest up in the next few days, and I think he’ll be fine.”

Originally published as Travis Head insists Australia can quickly rebound from the second Test innings defeat in South Africa